Replace bolts along with bearings?

Coxy_UK

I have a 2016 Giant Reign 1.5 Ltd and bearings are shot somewhere, hard to pinpoint.

I have a biking holiday bought and paid for so need it sorted asap.

Took bike to LBS who do have good rep now for maintenance, and guy there said they always replace the bolts as well as the bearings. Problem is, can get hold of bearings but apparently Giant will not have stock of the upper and lower bolts and bearings kit for about another 4 months!!!

I will call around tomorrow hoping a retailer somewhere has them, but what about actually just replacing the bearings and using the old bolts? Is that a big no no in general, or more specifically to the Maestro suspension or something?

The Rookie

Not sure how you can replace a bolt with a bearing, it's a logical impossibility.

Now replacing a bush with a bearing is another matter, and clearly a different bolt may be needed, I'd be surprised if someone wasn't offering a kit, tried eBay?

Coxy_UK

Bolts and bearings together... instead of just the bearings. The kits Giant sell include bearings and pivots.

The Rookie

The bolt doesn't wear (unless the bearing has seized completely and spun on it), no need to replace the bolt when replacing the bearings - just a waste of money.

cooldad

This ^^^^^^^^^^^

Coxy_UK

I spoke to a mechanic at another shop, this time a Giant Store, he said they change bolts at same time because kit comes with them, so everything swapped over new, no other reason.

I think bloke at my LBS said something about wear on alloy bolts.

But basically I am out of options. I think buy decent Enduro Max bearings and have them fitted with exisiting bolts.

Rightarmbad

All of the suspension bearings bar one set are stock numbers available at any bearing shop for nicks.
The one set are flanged and you can source them in double row from Enduro suppliers.
Giant probably supply bolts as sometimes the lower pivots can corrode the axles and the bearings stick.
This also makes them quite difficult to remove sometimes.

Coxy_UK

Oh which are flanged?

I am looking at buying...

4x - 6900 LLU MAX Enduro Bike Bearing 10x22x6

2x - 608 LLU MAX Enduro Bike Bearing 8x22x7

2x - 6802 LLU MAX Enduro Bike Bearing 15x24x5

4x - 6902 LLU MAX Enduro Bike Bearing 15x28x7